2019 Categories
Entries cost £250 + VAT per submission, or 3 entries for £650 + VAT.
The deadline for entries is Friday 12th July.
Best in Football Media
In the digital age the breadth of media working with and serving football (and all sports) is greater than ever before. This award could go to a club, a media owner, an individual publication, website, newspaper or TV programme. The recipient will have demonstrated a focus on football and engagement with their audience.
Best Operations Team
This award is for a team which has shown true excellence in the organisation of a particular event or series of events. Entrants might be from a club, a league or an association, or any other organisations involved in staging football events at any level in the game. The Judges will be looking for outstanding success in the past year as a result of a highly skilled workforce and above all strong teamwork.
Best Professional Service Business Serving Football
Open to law firms, accountants, architects and other professional service providers. Entrants to this award should demonstrate a clear commitment to and understanding of the business of football. Evidence will be required to show how that knowledge has been applied to achieve better commercial performance for clients in football.
Agency of the Year
Football is now firmly part of the media and marketing world. The agency of the year category recognises the increasing role of Marcoms agencies in football and will be awarded to a business offering Advertising, PR, Design, Social & Digital Media or other forms of promotional marketing. The agency can work for client football clubs, brands or businesses working in football and while individual projects can be included in the entry it should be noted that this award recognises the overall commitment to and understanding of football demonstrated by the agency. The judges will be looking for creativity, insight and clearly defined client outcomes.
Best Business Serving Football – up to £2m turnover (non professional service)
This award will be open to any small business connected to football which had a turnover in its last financial year of less than £2 million. Judges will be looking for sustained excellence of service delivery and product innovation and strong customer feedback.
Best Business Serving Football – over £2m turnover (non professional service)
This award will be open to any company connected to football which had a turnover in its last financial year of over £2 million. Judges will be looking for sustained excellence of service delivery and product innovation and strong customer feedback.
Best Club Marketing Initiative – Premier League
This award is for a particular marketing initiative by a club in the Premier League. The judges will be looking for well implemented innovative ideas, and clear evidence that the initiative achieved its desired outcomes. Creativity and performance against available targets will be taken into account. Entries can come from clubs or their marketing and advertising agencies.
Best Club Marketing Initiative – non Premier League
This award is for a particular marketing initiative by a club outside of the Premier League. The judges will be looking for well implemented innovative ideas, and clear evidence that the initiative achieved its desired outcomes. Creativity and performance against available targets will be taken into account. Entries can come from clubs or their marketing and advertising agencies.
Best Football Club Hospitality
Open to the clubs as well as the caterers the entrants to this award should demonstrate the quality, cost and customer service in delivery of their hospitality offering in enhancing the match day experience as well as the finances of the club.
Best Use of Technology in Football (not club specific)
This award should be entered by any club or company using technology in a compelling and interesting way. The entry should demonstrate how the technology has a measurable impact on customer experience or commercial profitability.
Best Use of Technology in a Football Club
This award should be entered by any club using technology in a compelling and interesting way. The entry should demonstrate how the technology has a measurable impact on customer experience or commercial profitability.
Innovation Award
Football never stands still and its ability to adapt to a changing world is a key to its success. This award recognises the change-makers; those who disrupt and challenge; those who invent and create. This award recognises innovation which stays true to the spirit and traditions of the game but nevertheless helps take football into the future.
Best Football Community Scheme
This award is open to club community schemes and organisations in the community which work with clubs. The judges will be looking for clear commitment to the local community, its people and business. Innovative approaches and measurable outcomes should be presented within the entry. This category may be split up into different categories for teams in or outside the premiership based on the number of entrants.
Best Non-match Day use of Venue
This award will acknowledge the successful utilisation of football venues in activities other than matches. This might include conferences, exhibitions, awards ceremonies and training as well as musical and other events. Judges will be looking for creative approaches and commercial success.
Best Corporate Social Responsibility Scheme
This award is open to clubs, associations, companies, brands and organisations involved in football who can demonstrate the positive impact their CSR activities have had on the environment, fans, employees, communities and other stakeholders.
Best Fan Engagement by Club
This is an award for the club which engages best with its fans. Entrants should show evidence of creativity in how they interact and get the fans involved. Judges will be looking for strong results and authenticity in their communications, plus strong feedback from fans.
Sponsorship / Partnership of the Year
The judges will be looking for examples of partnerships in the wider world of football which create meaningful value for both parties. Any form of commercial partnership could qualify for this category provided it demonstrates clear ROI for the partners and creative thinking.
Best Brand Activation Involving Football
Football is at the heart of a myriad of marketing campaigns. This award recognises the best use of football in any of its guises as a component in brand activation. Whether advertising, PR, experiential or digital brands can use football to connect to the hearts and minds of customers. Entrants will need to demonstrate creativity, authenticity and of course great ROI. Open to brands and agencies.
fcbusiness Magazine CEO of the Year Award
To be voted on by FC Business readers